Panthers are on top of the mountain. Daylight second. And we're at home, but up against it next Friday night. Ripe for another mauling?
We've only won 1 from 5 games (20%) v the Panthers over the last two years. But to the surprise of many, we won the last game at Penrith Park 22-20, despite allowing our customary defensive lapse in the last 10 or so minutes at the death - to invite a loss by any means possible.
Actually, over the last eight years, most games have been close v the Panthers with 13 from the last 15 games (since 2015) are decided by 10 points or less. We haven't been able to beat the Panthers by more than 8 points in nine years (since R4, 2014, 32-16) but suffered a 6-40 demolition in CBUS (R25) last year.
We're also little better v the Panthers at Commbank in recent times winning 1 from 2. We won our last game here at Commbank v the Panthers 16-10 two years ago (R5, 2020), but lost the previous one three years ago 10-16 (R11, 2019). History can be strange.
If we play like we do last night against the Broncos, expect another hiding.
R19 last night, the Broncos out-passioned us and out-witted us. Reynolds scored a TKO over us. They defended with more desperation, more resiliance, and played with more creativity. They were not going to be stopped from scoring or defending their line. It was a Queensland-like display of passion, despite getting the bounce of the ball and an abundance of luck. Good teams can overcome obstacles. We couldn't.
We got what we deserved. Our third hiding of the season over 20-points. In doing so, continuing our poor run of Thursdays winning 1 from the last 5 (20%). We're also poor on Mondays recently winning 2 from 5 (40%)
There was one area we matched the Broncos last night. We got paid, so did they.
After all, BA did say back on 13 June the game is no longer a sport, it's a business. Professionals doing their job. What they're paid to do. Play with effort.
And the one thing about jobs and professional workers is the disdain they have for working odd hours if they don't have to. Thursday is not the regular time slot. It's somewhat reminiscent of another hiding on Easter Mondayitis when we were also slaughtered by the Dogs 4-34. Monday is also not the usual time slot, and it's not always easy to get back into work after a break. We had a break this week leading up to the game, like the 5-day break we did leading up to that game too.
Fortunately, the Eels seem to prefer Friday nights in recent times winning 8 from the last 11, including that last win over the mighty Panthers. Maybe, there's a glimmer of hope. Not much, but a glimmer. The Panthers meanwhile have won 12 of their last 13 Friday night games. Their only blemish was against Dr Jeckyl earlier this year.
In last night's pressor, BA appears to remains ultra-confident in his off-field preparation systems and says it is just comes down the 80 minutes on the field - with no excuses in the preparation or their training off-field. It's not the first time he has said essentially the same thing. Hence, it's essentially the players' fault - and also an indirect admittance he is at a loss to explain it. And thus, find the solutions, despite being the mentor and captain of the ship.
All in all, in the Eels camp, there seems to be deep issues exposing themselves in the performances of the team, as the calls for a new voice at the helm grow along with the chorus of boos and dissatisfaction among many fans.
Are we seeing the usual slipping away from the Eels in the second half of the season? The tough draw ahead will certainly test that.
Can we actually pull ourselves up against the best again, temporarily out of the quicksand we're in? Or will our usual erratic self be on show again?
Comments
If we can win three of our last six games we make the eight if we can't we finish ninth.
I predict a mauling to the Eels but even if they win, the Eels are done this season. I'm doubtful they will even make the finals.
Looking forward to the rebuild.
I have a strong feeling we are going to win this game. We will be up for this game and win. Then every eels fan will want to shoot themselves wondering why we can't play like this consistently and sadly it will be enough to keep BA as our coach.
Yes no chance so that means in 1EE code watch this space.
As soon as the majority write this team off and the BA noise grows to levels you'd hear at a rock concert something seems to happen to this team.
Let the hateraide flow let the stones keep being thrown it seems to work as some sick motivational ploy.
If we get within 20 it would be a miracle.
Sad thing for me is like last game we will be fielding our best possible team. I don't expect any improvement. We concede more than 20 points a game this game 20 will be a blessing.
But isn't that a blessing in disguise if we want to get better moving the coach whose responsible this is surely the way the team indirectly goes about it.
The last thing the team wants for the team to respond and BA hits his KPIs and is kept.
This quite no the noise what we are trying to do is rip the plaster off the wound and let it gush no so it's fully exposed.
Yes we've been blessed with minimal injuries for the last 12 weeks and still played shithouse, but don't tell that to Brissy and his unicorn mates because they are looking for any excuse to alleviate responsibility from Arthur as we saw earlier in the season when they said injuries were the cause for the drop in form. But you're not hearing anything from these unicorns now
Blessed with minimal injuries for the last 12 weeks Cmon who are you fooling our outside backs have been decimated from the jump of the season.
We lost Ray Stone and Jaze Dunster early on but we've had minimal injuries for 12 weeks ok cool story.
If your going to talk too me about Arthur and his death kneel talk too me about selection talk to me about tactics defense anything please 😂 I'm all ears and there's a better discussion too be had.
Despite being trumped up as having our best opportunity in decades, we're regressing.
Our for & against (+14) & defence (10th) has regressed to the worst since the 2018 spoon. We're now conceding 22.61ppg (22.92ppg in 2018).
And some individuals have been conceding a lot according to Foxstats' try causes (helping opposition score), up to R19:
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